title: Viral hepatitis: a four-year hospital and general-practice study in Sydney. 2. Transmission of viral hepatitis among residential contacts in Sydney.
abstract: Clinical and serological study of household contacts of index patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis showed the high infectivity of hepatitis A viral (HAV) for susceptible contacts. The anti-HAV specific IgM developed in sera of 67% of susceptible children and 31% of susceptible adult contacts. Of 81 susceptible contacts whose sera became anti-HAV positive, 28.4% developed clinically overt hepatitis. Administration of human immunoglobulin reduced the rate of clinical expression of hepatitis A among susceptible contacts; it also appeared to reduce the actual infection rate. The infection rate among susceptible adult contacts of adult index cases suffering from hepatitis B was 24%. Of 25 susceptible contacts whose sera became HBV-marker positive, 24% developed clinical illness. Transmission occurred probably both by parenteral and non-parenteral means. It is currently not possible to determine susceptibility or seroconversion to hepatitis non-A non-B agents.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005192:Family Health; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins